Electric supply and control system.



1. L. MILTON.

ELECTRIC SUPPLYAND CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. 9PM

Patented-Oct 3,191? 2 SHEETS-SHEET I 1. L. MILTON. EE'ECIRIC sumv AND CONTROL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, I914. I I 1,200,213 Patented Oct. 3,1916

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LEwIs MILTON, or ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO MOTOR IGNITION & DEVICES COMPANY, A CORPORATION or WEST VIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatcntedOct. 3, 1916.

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial NO. 838,651.

internal combustion engines for furnish-- ing electricity for the ignition of such engines and also for operatin other electrical apparatus, such aslights. have developed this system especially for use On vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines;

in particular, motorcycles, although I am aware that thednvention may be applied to a variety of. other uses. 7

In my system 1' preferably employ a generator, ,which, in connection with a storage battery, furnishes the velectricity 'for the ignition of engine, and also for the lights, and other electrical equipment. The storage battery is charged by the generator when the Output of the generator is sufficiently great, and carries a part or all of the load when the generator is at rest or running slowly. This interaction "between the generator, storage battery, and load, is similar to that of.the electrical lighting and ignition equipment now. in general use on gasolene propelled vehicles.

An object of my invention is to eliminate the relay commonly used on similar systems for supplying electricity for the purpose of preventing the battery from discharging throifghthe generator, when the generator is at rest orruiming slowly.

Still another object is to provide a common controlling means, preferably manually operated, for advancing and'retarding the ignition, for rendering the ignition circuit in-' operative at certain times, and for 'control-.

ling the compression release of the internal combustion engine.

This generator contains,'in' a single unit, not only thcgenerator proper, but also the timer and certain circuit control-ling means. If desired howevee, these various elements may form two or more units, and other .types of generator,'tin ier and control mech anism may be used.

I employ a timer, including,in accordance with common practice, a member normally stationary, but ad ustable about the axis of the timer shaft for the purpose of advancing or retarding the spark.

The methods of control which form'a part of my invention are obtained by associating with this adjustable timer-member. circuit controlling means for controlling the connection between the generator;and

the storage battery, and preferably also for rendering the ignition circuit inoperative under certain conditions. Theadvancing and retarding of the spark by this adjustable member is performed preferably by a manually operated controlling means which may also be arranged to relieve the compression of the engine for starting eitherby raising the exhaust. valve or opening relief cocks or by any other suitable means.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 rep- 7 resents an internal combustion eng1ne-,.to""

which is attached the generatingunit forming the principal part of my invention, a"

portion of the generating unit being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite I end of the generator from that shown in 1, portions which are unnecessary for showing the electrical actions involved, being omitted. Fig. 3 is'a detail of the here-' inafter described circuit controlling means as seen from above. Fig. 4 shows the electrical circuits together with the compression relief controlling means.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents the generator mounted on a bracket 250,-which is integral with the crankcase 251 of the engine. Said generator is-geared to the crank shaft 252 of this engine by means of gear 260 attached to the generator vshaft 20, gear 261 meshing with said gear 260, and gear (262), attached to said crank shaft (252). There arealso shown the respective cylin ders (226) and (236), pistons- (227) and (7237) and connectingrods (22S) and (Q38), spark plugs (223) and (233) of. the engine. There is also shown a gear ('23) attached to the shaft (20) and meshing with a pinion (24) attached to the rotor shaft (25). Said shaft carries the rotor of agenerator, 1 5

4'2). There is a timer disk (60) the machine.

Referring now to Fig. :2 there is shown on the shaft the commutator (:28) against which restthe stationary brushes (40, 41 and revoluble about the shaft (20), throughout a portion of a revolution. Said disk is normally stationary. that is to say it does not rotate with the shaft (20). But may be turned through a portion of the revolution for the purpose of varying the time of ignition and actuating the circuit controlling mechanism. Said timer disk (60) has attached thereto a plate (62), said plate being insulated from said timer disk. Pivotd to said'plate are two levers (65 and 90). Said levers are electrically connected to one another through said plate, but are insulated fronrthe frame of Said timer disk also carries a contract bracket (83) which is also insulated from said timer disk. The contact lever (65) carries a contact (80) adapted to engage a contact (81) associated with the bracket (83). There is a cam (87) attached to. the end of the shaft ('20) for the purpose vofactuating said lever (65). To prevent electrical connection being made between said lever and said cam, there is a fiber piece (88), attached to said lever, against which the cam acts. There is also a spring for moving said lever (65) so. as to cause engagement of the contacts (80 and 81), except at such times as the contactsare separated by said cam (87). g 4 (121 and 131) attachedto the timer disk (60), but insulated therefrom. between which the free end of lever (,90) plays.

. There is a spring (92) associated with said lever, tending to force it downwardly into engagement with the contact (121). There is a cam (93) attached to-the shaft (20), behind the cam (87) and adapted to] cause the lever (90) to oscillate, whereby at certain times said lever is caused to engage the contact (121) and at other times to engage the said cam is made contact (131). In order to-prevent grounding of the-lever (90) through the cam (93),

such as fiber.-

The sparks for the ignition of the internal combustion engine are produced by ,the

the timer in this posi ion.

There are two contacts also closes the. circuit between said of insulating material,

Attached to the ampu ee) the gen-J,

orator. are two stationary springs? (100Tand 10 which are insulated from eaclrother' i timer disk is in certimer disk (60) is limited a col |nter-clock\vise direction as far as said screw permits, the position of' the tongue (83) with relation to the springs (.100 and 101) is shown by B, Fig. 3. disk and associated parts are rotated in a clockwise direction, the tongue (83) first engages the spring (101) and after-further movement it engages also the spring (100). The stop limits the motion of the timer disk so that the tongue (83) cannot pass beyond the position A, Fig: 7. The shape of the springs (100 and 101) is such that the tongue (83") in passing from the position R to the positionA does not become separated from either of the springs after'having engaged them. \Vit-h this' arrangement, the machine is suited for counter clockwise rotation of the shaft (20), as indicated by the arrow. Rotation of the timer disk and. associated parts in a direction opposite to the rotation of the shaft causes the separation As the timer of the timer contacts (80 and 81) (Fig. 2) to take place earlier. This advances the ig place. Referring again to Fig. 3, A, then, is

the position of the tongue, (83) in the fully advanced position, and R is its position in the fully retarded position of the timer.

From what has been said-above,- it lS eVl de'nt that advancing the timer first estab lishes a c'onnectionbetween the tongue (83') and the spring (101), and further advancing tongue and the spring Should it be desired to employ the generator where it is necessary to drive the shaft (20) in t a clockwise direction, the

stop or screw (61) is removed from the position shown in. Fig. 2, and put in the hole (61). \Vith the-stop thus changed, the

range of motion of the. timer disk (60) is such that the tongue (83) may move between the positions A and R of Fig. 7. \Vhen turned as far'as possible in a clockwise direction (which for clockwise .rotation ofthe shaft (20), is the fully retarded position) the tongue (83) occupies the po- Due to 'therecesses (100". and 101') in the respective springs, said tongue sition B.

does not engage either of said springs. As the timer disk is turned in a counter-clock.-

wise direction, that is, advanced (for. clock wise rotation of the shaft) (20) the tongue first engages the-spring (101) and the spring 1 (100), Thus the sequence ofconnectionsoccurring during advancing 1i fof the timer is .the same as was previously the when the apparatus was. arranged for counterclockwise rotation ofthe shaft (20 "L'Referring to Ifig. 4:, there is shown the timer di'skj (60), connected by a rod (300) ;to a bell crank (301), Said bell crank is "pivoted at and-has a handle (303) for the purpose of. manipulation. Thus by means of-the handle (303), the timer disk (60) can be rotated for thepunpose of varying'the time of the spark in thewell known T manner; In the particular arrangement a shown, wherein the shaft (20) rotates in a f counter-clockwise direction, the spark'is reitarded 'by moving'said handle to the left advanced by moving-it to the right,

; '.-b ut when thehaiidleis inoved far to the left, "kit,entirelyinterrupts the ignition as will be'xplaind more ,fully. By means of a p'usli rod (310.). pivotedto said -bell crank ii i tedjo a spring actuated lever. (312) through a collar (313). attached to said rod QSaid-rod. (310) slides in a hole in f-lever (312.) and. .moves lever (312) only when the collar;.(3 13) abuts said lever; ,By

"this; arrangement I lever, (312) is pushed awayj from" stop; (314) only when said =lever (303) is ,moved far'tq the left. The eshaust camv (249-),foflning a part of the 1' 'engine; acts on cam levers (228 and 238) whereby motion iscommunicated to the exhaustfvalv'esh-(229 and 239), by means of ;can1 levers-(2,28 and 238) respectively. The xbottom-portior of .thelever (312) is so f g -shaped. as to form, a. toe whereby,when this 1 lever isdisplacedfrom its normal position,

itactu'ates said camlevers (228 a'nd 238) so -as t-open the -respective exhaust valves a .nd-239)-.'- "Regardless of the positions f 1- iof therain' (249) when lthe lever {303) is ""in 'its extreme left-hand position, the ex- 7 A haust vvalves -are""raised, and the compression of the engine is relieved. Insteadof this 'means. ofrelieving the compression 5 other suita le means may be' employed as will be evi exit to one skilled in the art. This might, for example, .be'accomplished terminal of which is connected to the brush (40)' through both of said parts, beinggrounded to the engine frame. The other terminal of said storage battery is connected by wire r( 2 01) .toth ei s pring There The brush (42) is connected by wire (20-2) to the spi dng (100). When the timer disk is advanced sufiiciently to cause the tongue (83) to engage both springs (100 and 101), the connection is completed between the un grounded terminal'of 'the storage battery and the brush (42). The generator,=when in operation, can then charge the stora e battery. Vhile the particular circuits \vit in the generator are not essential, I show the employment of an auxiliary'brush for one end'of the-field winding. I have found this to give satisfactory regulation. There are ignition; coils (2'20) and (230) respectively, having primary windings-(220 and 230) respectively, and secondary windings (220 and 230") respectively. One terminal of each of these four windings is grounded.

The remaining terminal of the primary windings (220 and 230) are'cou'nected by w res (221 and 231) 'to the contacts (121 i 'and 131) respectively, and the remaining terminal .of thesecondary' windings (220 i and 230") are connected to .the respective spark plugs (223. and 233). Thereisa con- .denser (150) connected to the plate (62) and the spring- (101). There shown a light (350), controlled by switch (-351 connected to 1the storage battery (200). Said light may be operated regardlessof the con ditionof the generator and associated parts, or ofthe switch (360). i

The operation of thesystem is: as, follows: Assume that the engine and enerator are at rest. The handle (303 should be sufiiciently far toward the, leftto separate the tongue (83) 'from thesp'ring (101) thereby preventing a discharge of the storage batterv through the ignition-circuit or the generator. To" start" the engine the 105 handle (303) is movedto its extreme left position, whereby the compression is relieved- The engine is then turned over by cranking or pedaling, or otherwise until it has attained sulficient momentum to drive '110 it over the compression stroke. The handle (303) is then moved sufficiently to the right to cause engagement of the tongue (83) and the spring (101) and to stop the action of the corn'pressi'on release device. gine should then start, receiving ignitipn'as follows: Current flows from the ungrounded side of the battery through wire (201),

spring (101), tongue (83), contacts ,(81 and 80), lever (65), plate (62), and dis-12o tribution lever (90) to one of the contacts (121) 'or (131). Assumingit tobe (121), the current, then flows towire'.(22 1) and. primary winding (220) to ground, whence it.returns'to the grounded side :of the bat-'- 125 tery. This takes place only when thejcontacts (80 and 81) are in engagement, at the time that these contacts become separated by the action of the cam (87), the circuit is interruptedand a spark produced at the The en- 115 the'engine 'is' driving thegenerator fast spark plug (223) v in the well known man- 1 ner. The condenser (150) is in parallel with the contacts (80 and 81) for the well known purpose. The cam (93), by its action on the lever (90) causes said lever to be connectedalternately to contacts (121 and 131), whereby the sparks are delivered alternately to the spark plugs (2'23 and 233). When a retarded spark is required, as is the case when" the engine is running slowly, the tongue (83) has not moved s'ufiiciently to the left to cause engagement between it and the spring (100), thereby avoiding the 'pos-- sibility of the storage battery discharging itself through the generator at slow .speeds of operation. As the spark is advanced, the tongue (83) engages the spring (100), thereby completing the connection between the spring (100) and the spring (101). When operating-with an advanced spark enough to charge the storage battery, and advancing the spark completes the circuit between said battery and generator. When it is desired to. stop .the engine'the lever (303) is moved sutliciently far to. the left to separate the tongue (83) from the contact (101), thereby rendering the ignition circuit inoperative,. and if desired, said lever (303) may be moved still-' farther to the left so as .to relieve the compression. This last named movement is particularly desirable when it is desirable to allow a motorcycle to coast without power being supplied by the;

' including,in'combination, a generator, an

1 ignition circuit, a timer having a r'evoluble member and an ad ustable member, and

adapted to periodically open and close said ignition circuit, and means integral, with said adjustable member for rendering'said ignition circuit inoperative when said adjustable member occupies certain positions by opening said ignition circuit at some point other than where it .is periodically opened and closed by said timer.

'2; An electric supply and control system, including. in combination, an ignition circuit, a generator, a timer having a revoluble member and an adjustable member, said timer-being adapted to periodically open and close said ignition circuit, and means integral with said adjustable member for rendering said ignition'circuit ino.peratpf ewhen said adjusti'lblemember occupies the fully retarded position, by opening said ber, a switch associated member and controllingthe circuit between ignition circuit at some point other than where it is periodically opened and closed by said timer.

. 3. An electric supply and control system including, in combination, a "generator, a timer having an adjustable member, a "storage battery, a circuit connecting said generator and said storage battery, and a 'switch controlling said circuit, said switch being associated with the adjustable memberof said timer. 2

4. An electric supply and control system including, in combination, a generator, a

timer having an adjustable member, a storagebattery, a CliClllt connectin said generator and storage battery, and a swltci controlling said 'circuit, said switch being associated with the adjustable member of said timer, and adapted to close said circuit when said adjustable member occupies posi tions remote from the fully retarded posi tion.

An electric supply .and control systemingluding in combination, a generator, a storage battery, an ignition circuit, a circuit connecting said'generator and said storage battery, a timer having an adjustassociated withsaid adjustable member. and adapted to render said ignition circuit-in- ,operative when said adjustable member occupiesa certain predetermined position, and

adapted to renderthe circuit between said generator and said storage battery inoperative, when'said adjustable member occupiesa certain predetermined position.

6. An electric supply and control system ablemember and circuit controlling means including the combination with an internal combustion engine, of a generator, =1 storage battery, a circuit connecting. said storage battery, a timer havin an adjustable memsaid generator and said storage battery, a compression relief for said internal combustion engine, and a common controlling means for said adjustable member and said compression relief.

with said adjustable 7. An electric supply-and control system:

including the combination with an internal combustion engine, of a generator, an ignition circuit for said internal combustion engine, a storage battery. a circuit connecting said generatorand said storage battery, a timer having an adjust-able member, circuit controlling means associated with said adjustable member adapted to render said ignition circuit inoperative when said adjustable member occupies a certain predeter-.

mined position and adapted'to. open the circuit between said generator and said storage battery when said adjustable member occuepiesa certain predetermined position. a compression' relief for-said internal combustion engine and a common controlling means for said adjustable member and said compres sion relief,

8. An electric" supply and control system including the combination,v with' a generator having agenerating. rotor, a timer-- shaft geared to said rotor, an adjustable timer member and circuit'controlling means de-.

' g means, and anignition circuit controlled by said timer and said circuit; controlling means."

including in combination, a generator'haw 9. An electric supply and control system,

ing a generating rotor, and a timer shaft geared thereto, of a storage battery adapted to be connected to said generator, an internal combustion" engine, compression relief mech- 'anism 'therefor, an ignition circuit for said mterna'l'combustion englne, and a common.

' means 'for controlling the supply of electric- 'ity to said ignition circuit, the connection between said generator and said storage battery, and thecompressi'on relief of said internal combustion engine 10. An electric supply and control system includin in combination, a storage battery,

the combination. with an-internal com-.

anjignition circuit, a generator adapted to charge saidstorage battery, and a switch; controlling the supply of electricity to said' ignition. c rcuit and controlling the energy supplied by said generator to said storage battery. p

1L In an electric supply and control sysbustion engine, of compression relief mecha nism therefor, a generator, a storagebattery,

a circuit connecting said generator and said,

storage battery, an ignition circuit, and a common controlling means for the circuit between said generatorand said storage battery,fsaid ignition circuit and the compres-' -si on relief of said internal combustion en- 12. An electric supplyand control system, includin in adjustabia-member, a contact'associated with said adjustable member, a second contact associated with some part other than said 'adjustable member and adapted to be engaged by said tirst named contact when said adjustable member occupies. certain positions, a means for limiting the'range of adjustment of said adjustable member, said means being 'forcausing the periodic en combination, a timer having an capable of a plurality of arrangements,.one of'said arrangements permitting said contacts to-engage when said adjustable mem- -:ber is moved to the limit of its. range in a clockwise direction and to-become separated when said adjustable member is moved to the limit of its range in a counterclockwise ,direction, and another of said arrangements permitting said contacts to ergage when said adjustable member is moved to the limit of its range in a counter clockwise direction and to become separated when said adjustablemember is moved to the limit of its range in a clockwise direction;

13. An electric supply and control system including, in combination, a timer having an points for periodic interruption.

14. An electric supply and control system includin in combination, a timer having-an adjus A sociated with said adjustable member, means gement and separation of said contact pomts,-two slid,- able contacts integrally associated with said adjustable member for transmitting current to or from said contact'points for periodic interruption, one or more induction -coils apart from said timer, one or more distributer contact points associated [with said timer, an electrical connection between the primary winding of each ofsaid induction coils and one of said distributer contact points, and ameans for periodically connecting-said coils through said distributer contact points in succession.

15. An electric supply and control system including, in combination,- a plurality of sources of electricity, a contact connected to eachof said sources, a timer-having an adjustable member, said adjustable-member e member, timer contact points as- 

